About 130 hand sanitizers were handed over to taxi drivers at the KwaDukuza and Mandeni taxi ranks on Monday morning.

The campaign started at the KwaDukuza main taxi rank where pamphlets were handed out and sanitizing of hands and disinfecting of taxis was done.

South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) chairperson in the iLembe region, Bongani Mkhwanazi said they would visit the other ranks within the region.

“We felt it was important to do what we can do to keep the taxis clean but, most importantly, educate the drivers and passengers. We gave the drivers the sanitizers and educated them about the virus, each association is now responsible to continue with what we started today,” said Mkhwanazi.

Each taxi that came into the rank was sanitized before it could pick up passengers and the driver, told to ensure that every passenger gets their hands sanitized, before they pass on the money.
A taxi driver from the KwaDukuza Taxi Association, Muzi Mzimela, said he was happy that they were given hand sanitizers.

“I was very concerned for my safety as the driver, to a point where I thought it was better to buy my own sanitizer. I am happy to see that even our passengers are being educated about the virus,” said Mzimela.

iLembe mayor Siduduzo Gumede said they partnered with Santaco because it was important to empower commuters, drivers and vendors with knowledge.

Joining them in the campaign were the health department, other sector departments, civil society as well as the business community, represented by the iLembe Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism.

“Today is just the starting point. Led by the department of health, we will be targeting areas that are more prone to spreading the virus,” said Gumede.

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